Author's note: Small references to sensuality and racism.

Chapter 4

The nurses and Doc were doing a general examination on the soldiers, bloods, ECG, the works. Red was walking over to the sick bay. Even from outside he heard Latin music and loud laughter. He knew instantly Minty was there and in secret he was hoping that she would be. As a SEAL he was very observant. He had to be to stay alive. He studied her from the first moment he set eyes on her. He saw her laughing and dancing around with the other nurses before. He knew she loved music, especially Latin music and she usually put something on in the nursing office. Her laughter was wholehearted, loud, and unmissable just like she was. The first time he heard it, it started to stir up some emotions inside him that he hasn't felt for a long time. For some reason he thought that if he could never hear her laughter again, his life would be empty. She was kind but at the same time fiery and took no bullshit. He saw how she put people in their places who tried to give her attitude.

While he often felt cold, hardened and disillusioned, she was bubbly and so full of life. Whenever he was around her, he felt warmth and more alive.

Yes, he knew all of that. However, Minty always showed him a new side to her. No matter how much he figured out, she still remained a mystery, something he could not put his finger on. He just couldn't figure her out completely. As a SEAL, he was not used to this, and she just captivated him, occupying his thoughts more and more.

The door to the clinic opened and another soldier, Anthony, walked out. He looked at Red and said:

- It's like Cinco de Mayo inside – he said laughing but there was something disdainful in his voice. Red heard Anthony making comments about Latino culture and immigrants before as a 'joke'. He never liked him and could feel his anger rising. When he stepped in, he saw Minty sitting in a chair and singing the lyrics to a song with another nurse. When they saw him, they stopped singing.

- Red, take a seat, I will do your bloods – Doc called over to him – after, Minty can do your ECG - Minty froze for a second and her eyes widened a bit. Doc was done in a few minutes, and Red was sitting on the examination bed, taking his shirt off. Minty was collecting the electrodes and he saw Doc grinning at him. That bastard did it on purpose. Lake and his big mouth. He was like a gossipy old lady. Minty got back to him and he lay down on the bed. He could tell that she was shy and nervous and kept avoiding eye contact. She subconsciously bit her lip while touching his skin. The feeling of her fingers on him almost made him close his eyes. Her fingers were so delicate, and he felt like it was setting his skin on fire. She put all the electrodes on his chest and suddenly looked up at him.

- I am so sorry, I forgot to explain what I was doing.

- I won't tell anyone, I promise – he replied and winked at her. She gave him a shy smile.

- Everything looks fine – Minty informed him after she studied the report. She took the leads and the electrodes off him, and he put his shirt back on. Red thought that it was over too soon and so did Minty, but he never knew that.

After Red left, Minty could feel Siobhan staring at her.

- Is everything okay? – she turned to her friend.

- You know I can do ECGs as well. There were a few people waiting for bloods and if you let me do the ECG on Red, we could have been quicker.

Seriously, this shit again? Minty thought. She didn't reply, just went back to work.

- Please Minty come with me – Siobhan has been pleading with me for the last 30 minutes. – There will be music, drinks…

- Drinks? – I cut in – You are a nun.

- You know what I mean. Everyone will be there. It will be fun – Tonight there was a gathering at the military base, and I heard all the nurses discussing it excitedly.

- If everyone will be there you can go with the other nurses.

- No. Please come with me. You are doing night shift tomorrow so you can sleep in – I really didn't want to go. I was knackered and just wanted an early night.

- Okay fine. But I am gonna leave early.

- Yay.

After my shift I went back to my room and relaxed a bit. Then I took a shower and got dressed. I was wearing a white tank top, shorts and white Fila trainers, the chunky ones if you need to know. I could not be bothered to do my hair so I just let it out. I put on some mascara and blush which I used very sparingly because you cannot exactly buy it in the middle of the jungle. That's it, could not be bothered to do more. Unlike Siobhan who was all dolled up. Okay girl.

- You look nice – I said walking towards her.

- You too – she said, and I felt envy in her voice which bothered me up until we got to the military base. There was music and people were chatting and laughing. My head was already hurting. I saw some of my nurses mixing with the soldiers. I was aware that quite a lot of them were in intimate relationships. To be fair I totally understood it. You are all confined, in the middle of nowhere basically, in a stressful surrounding. This brings people together and people need intimacy more.

I was looking around when I saw him next to Zee and Flea I think. Our gazes met and I felt this weird 'butterfly' sensation in my stomach. He looked so fine in that white shirt. Then Siobhan started to waive at him from next to me. Oh for Christ sake.

- I am gonna get a drink – I shouted over the music.

- Get me one as well.

- You are a nun; you are not even supposed to be here – I said and turned around. I actually loved chatting shit with her, drink whatever alcohol we could find and gossip about boys. But I always took the piss out of her for being a nun. I got myself a beer. Not like I really had a choice. They only had beer. I stood in the corner and had a chat with Doc. I started to really like the guy. Over his shoulder I saw Siobhan chatting with Red. He looked up and our eyes locked again. And the weird stomach feeling. Again.

- I am gonna go out for a bit – I told Doc. I sat down on some stairs holding my beer.

- Can I sit? - Araminta looked up at Red.

- Sure – she gestured towards the stairs.

- I saw you come outside – he started.

- Yeah, it was a bit too noisy – Araminta took a sip from her beer and ran her fingers through her hair. Red followed her fingers with his eyes admiring her locks. They were strong and shiny with beautiful natural waves that reached all the way down to her hips. He really wanted to run his fingers through her hair. Feeling the softness on his skin. He then looked at her olive skin. Looking all smooth and soft. Her body was on the skinny side but was firm with long, lean muscles. We wanted to run his fingers up her bare upper arm. Then he wanted to kiss the soft skin on the side of her neck. He wanted to feel her all over his skin. Araminta tucked her hair behind her ear and turned to him.

- So how about your parents? You never really told me anything about them.

- Yeah, well. As you know my dad was also a SEAL. My mum was a midwife. They are both still around but retired. I have a younger sister. 2 years younger to be exact, turning 24 soon.

- So that makes you 26.

- Indeed – he looked at her questioningly.

- I am the same age as your sister if that is what you wanted to ask.

- She is getting married next year, and I can't believe it.

- I know. Every time I think about marriage, I always get that feeling that I am still 16 and I am not old enough for it.

- So, no husband waiting for you at home then?

- Not even a boyfriend. Only a cat – Red felt relief hearing that. They never talked about relationships before, and he was glad to find out that there wasn't a man in her life. Even the thought of it made him jealous.

- How about you?

- Nope. Not even a cat in my case. It is not easy to settle down as a SEAL. Being away from home and all that. Can I ask you something?

- You can but I might not answer – Minty smiled mischievously. She found that she was feeling comfortable in his company.

- What is that number tattooed on your arm? – Red never asked her this question so far because he felt like it had a personal meaning, and he did not want to overstep any boundaries. But he finally felt like she started to open up to him a bit more. Minty looked at her tattoo for a moment.

- This is the year my dad was born. Do you have any? I mean tattoos, obviously you have a dad – Red laughed.

- Yeah, on my side – he pulled up his shirt. It was a pattern going down all alongside his ribcage. – My sister is a very good artist. She drew it.

- It is really nice. I have one at the same place – Minty rolled up her shirt a bit and could not help but notice how Red's eyes darkened as he looked at her skin and it turned her on. It was a quote saying "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing".

- Edmund Burke – Red said.

- Impressive – Minty replied – you are the first person who knew who said it. I also have a cat on my ankle for my cat obviously - Minty leaned a bit over to untie her shoelaces so she can show him her tattoo. This movement exposed more of her chest. Her breasts were not big but beautifully round and Red had to bite the inside of his mouth. No one ever turned him on like this before. He wanted her in his bed.

- So, this is it – Minty said and showed him a small cat pattern on her ankle. Just as she put her shoe back on Siobhan appeared.

- Minty let's go.

- It's barely 22:30. I thought you wanted to stay longer.

- Not anymore. I feel really tired.

- Okay. Good night – she said to Red as she stood up.

- So, what were you guys talking about? You and Red? – Siobhan asked me on the way back.

- Just about tattoos really. What were you guys talking about?

- Nothing much. He went out pretty much straight after you did – her tone was accusatory. Like I asked him to go outside with me.

- Siobhan is everything okay? – we stopped at the bottom of the stairs.

- Yeah, everything is okay. Good night – and with that she went into her room.

It was the day after the party, and I was doing a night shift yet again. Let me tell you one thing about night shifts. They are either super calm and you basically have nothing to do, or shit hits the fan. It was one of those calm nights, but I felt a bit bothered. Since the party yesterday, Siobhan has been acting very strange with me. I went out for some fresh air. I was looking around and saw James in his full SEAL uniform with his rifle in his hand. It must have been around 3am. I guess I was not the only one on night duty. I went back inside and made myself a coffee. The only perk in this hospital really. Then I thought about something and made another one. I went back outside again and made my way across the mission. The second I started to walk towards him, he looked at me. He continued to look at me silently until I was standing right in front of him.

Araminta extended her arm towards Red with a cup of coffee.

- Thanks – he said. Araminta smiled and turned to look at the jungle, holding her own coffee. But Red kept looking at her. Fuck she was beautiful. The most beautiful woman he ever laid eyes on, no doubt. She had plump, full lips and he wondered how they would taste. Her face almost looked like a doll's, and she had beautiful almond shaped eyes. And there was something about her that made him feel like he just wanted to shield and protect her. As a SEAL that was his job of course, but it was something more. Maybe it was how small and slim she was, the top of her head reaching his shoulder. Or how innocent she looked, admiring at the jungle.

- I guess it is not a busy night – he said. Minty turned her gaze back to him.

- No thank God. But I had to take a little break, so I left Siobhan in charge.

- Did you know her before you came here? You guys seem close.

- Siobhan? No. I met her here. Really sweet girl but as you probably witnessed yesterday, she likes to drink more than a nun should – both of them let out a small laugh.

- Yeah, about yesterday…- Red started but at that moment Siobhan came out of the hospital.

- Minty I need you inside.

- I need to go – she turned to Red who nodded.

I walked by Siobhan, and she gave me a weird look.

- What were you doing outside? – she asked me.

- Taking my break.

- With Red? I thought you didn't like him.

- I saw him outside and just brought him coffee – Jesus, calm your tits girl.

- Coffee? – she asked with a weird tone again.

- So why did you need me? – I asked as this conversation was going nowhere and it was too late. Or too early, depends on how you wanna look at it.

- Mr Ugubere wanted to leave his bed again. - I looked over at the patient who appeared to be fast asleep.

- He looks fine to me – I said.

- Well, he wasn't a few minutes ago. Maybe if you were not flirting….- she said a bit aggressively.

- Firstly, I was not flirting. Secondly, he looks fine now so I am gonna go do my rounds on the other ward – and I left her. I really didn't like where this whole situation with me, Red and Siobhan was going. Her behaviour was really pissing me off. For the rest of the shift, I kept thinking about him and it made me feel giddy. I could tell he was attracted to me, and I was very much attracted to him. However, I was unsure of what he wanted from me, but I had a feeling it was not just friendship. I didn't know where I wanted this thing to go. I didn't want a relationship. Firstly, because he will probably leave soon, and I was not sure how long I would stay. So, there was no point. Secondly, for a relationship to work, you need to trust the other person. I don't trust men. Or people in general. I could never open up to anyone and when it started to get serious, I just ran away. I knew it was rooting from my past traumas and it was something I should have been working on, but I was too scared to face it. So, I just kept following the same unhealthy pattern. On the other hand, I was not really into just having sex with him. Don't get me wrong, if I was back home, I would have totally had sex with him. But here, I felt like it would be too awkward. Especially, since my friend also liked him. I didn't want to be involved in any drama or to lead him on, so I knew I had to set the record straight.